According to the study done last year on the Fraser, sockeye hooked and released (they were kept in holding pens for 24 hrs.) using the flossing method experienced a 99.5% survival rate. The anglers used for this study were volunteers of all skill levels. 174 sockeye hooked, only 2 died. Only one of which could be identified as having died as a result of fishery impacts.
I donot think this study reall accomplished much as the fish were held in ideal conditions after being landed. To attempt to get a true picture the fish should be radio tagged and their migration monitored by telmentary stations along the way to their natal stream. The sockeye only have a certain amount of fat reserves and a time frame to get them through the rough journey that lays ahead for them. After being played on the end of long leaders that causes some stress on being landed with latic acid building up in their bodies so if they are released soon after being landed they may be stressed and get delayed moving upstream. Of course this radio tagged fish could be intecepts by a large number of FN nets so that may not be the best method either.
In this time of shortage of fishery dollars from the Federeral Government the money maybe better spent on fish hatcheries or habitat restoration then studies that in my mind do not accomplish much.
I have related some of this at Upper Fraser Valley Sportsfishing Advisory meeting last year and my views were not supported by many in attendance. It could be that most of them fished for sockeye and I donot.
Sorry to sort of hyjack this thread and I should not be on the computer as I have taken a week away from cel phones etc.and doing some fishing